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Love is in the air as Valentine’s Day approaches. Even Mel’s widowed mother is getting back into the dating game. But Joyce calls part way through the evening when she finds her date floating face down in his pool. Baxter was despised by all who knew him, but who actually decided to kill him?

It had been a while since I read the first in the series, but the characters came back to me very quickly. I enjoyed seeing them again and meeting the fun cast introduced here. The plot was a little thin at times, but Mel’s antics as she investigated the case more than made up for it. This was fun, and I will be visiting these characters again soon.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-buttercream-bump-off-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Blackberry Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen, #17)
Blackberry Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen, #17)
Joanne Fluke | 2014 | Mystery
8
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
It's been four months since Hannah last found a dead body, and the only thing on her mind is getting her mother to settle on something for her wedding. That is until a sever summer storm forces Hannah to lose control of her car and hit a man, killing him. But no one recognizes him. Who is he? And what was he doing in Lake Eden?

There is little that changes in the lives of the characters, but I still enjoyed visiting them again since I found them their normal charming selves. The cliffhanger at the end definitely made me want the next book out soon. Can't believe I have to wait a year to find out what happens next.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/03/book-review-blackberry-pie-murder-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
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Lindsay (1717 KP) rated Out from the Underworld in Books

Feb 15, 2018 (Updated Apr 9, 2019)  
OF
Out from the Underworld
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The story starts out by having Heather with her daughter and visiting her father. Heather starts the story of her childhood from when her mother left them. The story is painful but intruding at the same time.

We get the authors view of things through her eyes. We also learn about how she and her sister Jazz needs to deal with grieving. We learn about her life in foster care with her brother and sister. Heather has a hard time with her mother's loss.

We see what happens when their father has to make his decision. The siblings have a bond together. We also learn about their father background and the family history. I learned that the siblings had a strong bond with each other. They can not seem to understand why their father does not want to escape the basement.
  
AI
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Christmas 1905 is approaching, and Molly is looking forward to spending a quiet holiday with her family. However, a young girl out in the cold attracts her attention, and she feels compelled to find out all she can about this girl’s family. Her mother disappeared months ago. What happened to her? Does the girl have any family left who would take her in?

The book gives us a wonderful look at Christmas in another time as we see different traditions we don’t follow any more. But that feeling is balanced by the mystery, which has some serious tones to it. Rhys Bowen balances the two perfectly. Mix in our favorite characters, and you’ve got a Christmas mystery to savor.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/12/book-review-away-in-manger-by-rhys.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
HB
Herbie's Big Adventure
Jennie Poh | 2016
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
<a href="https://awindowintobooks.wordpress.com">Full Review</a>
Herbie's Big Adventure by Jennie Poh is a cute illustrated book. Herbie, a hedgehog, is content with staying at home but his mom says he needs to go on his first adventure, forging. Naturally, Herbie is worried about being out on his own. He finds himself liking the world outside of his home. As he continues his adventure, Herbie travels farther and farther from home.

This is a cute story about a little hedgehog. The book teaches about the different seasons, going out in nature, and the bond between mother and child. The illustrations are amazing. The pictures have bright colors and make you feel that you are part of Herbie's forging.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Capstone Young Readers via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
  
Definitely not my favourite cozy mystery series - there was a lot of internal dialogue that I did not enjoy. I did like her lists, I thought those were cute and funny - I thought some parts were funny and entertaining but a lot of it was just .. blah, like why is this necessary, why are we repeating this again, why is this happening - but the end was good and fun

I called a lot of the book but it was still fun toward the end to read and the very end - I also called but it was still absolutely joyful to read.

Reading the struggle of a new mother was fun too - it was an interesting take on a mystery trying to be a PI or solving a mystery while literally taking care of a brand spankin new baby and separation anxiety ..
  
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Andy K (10821 KP) rated Facebook in Apps

Oct 13, 2018  
Facebook
Facebook
Communication, Entertainment, Events, Social Networking
1
7.6 (436 Ratings)
App Rating
Facebook sucks!
I deleted mine 6 months ago and have never been happier. Still have Messenger so I can share and send photos of my dogs to family and friends. (we should have an Orb for pet photos)

I'd rather have actual conversations with actual people rather than hearing people bitch about other people, hating on random strangers, or how much you hate our current president.

I always got so hung up on or disappointed by how many "likes" my posts got and got so upset when I get enough comments or likes on them. Or when only 3 people said "Happy birthday" on my wall or when my mother liked 96 of my posts in a row.

Smashbomb is way better since everyone here is so friendly, happy and discussions of how much you hate anyone are nowhere to be found.
  
Show all 3 comments.
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Cumberland (1142 KP) Oct 14, 2018

We really do need an orb for pet photos

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Sarah (7798 KP) Oct 14, 2018

I’d agree with the orb for pet photos ?

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Milleen (47 KP) rated Birdcage Walk in Books

Nov 14, 2018 (Updated Nov 14, 2018)  
Birdcage Walk
Birdcage Walk
Helen Dunmore | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This period drama has a dark, gothic uneasiness to it, but the tightly drawn characters, descriptive backdrop and DunmoreÕs powerful prose keep you reading. Lizzie Fawkes has been raised by a feisty mother, Julia an early advocate of women's rights and her stepfather Augustus who writes rousing political pamphlets. Lizzie has chosen to marry a sober, stoic gentleman, John Diner Tredevant, a property developer who has invested heavily in the construction of a terrace in Bristol and the entire household has moved to the Avon gorge to maintain their supportive, close-knit relationship. As the French Revolution rolls across the Channel, the house full of radicals await news from afar and the disruption echoes through their homes. Secrets and suspicions keep you interested in the story but it's the characters that provide the entertainment and emotional pull.
  
Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles, #1)
Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles, #1)
Anne Rice | 1976 | Fiction & Poetry, Horror, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
8.4 (51 Ratings)
Book Rating
History (0 more)
A vampire story you can sink your teeth into
I credit Anne Rice with my love of vampire novels and series. It has become a lifelong reading habit.

If you love a good vampire book, you need to read the one written by the Queen Mother of all vampire series. It takes you through the centuries of Louis the vampires life, how he came to be, who his friends are, who he meets and what happens. It's a long, winding tale of intrigue, betrayal and love.

I love the rich history and the detailed characters, background and psychology. Rice is a great writer, creates a detailed world within out world, that you find yourself falling into and falling in love with.

Pick this up, you will be hooked and there's more books, so you won't be dissapointed.
  
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Rachel Maria Berney (114 KP) Dec 4, 2018

That's not the best book on the series in all honesty. This first one is good and is what introduces you to Lestat and the second book is all about him. Without that love/hate relationship with the character LeStat, I think the third book would be a big struggle. It's well worth starting from beginning and powering through, there are amazing books after the queen one, with great characters and the over all vampire story arc gets tied up really well.

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Rebecca Starkey (19 KP) Dec 4, 2018

If I come across it I'll give it a go. :)

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Watchman (19 KP) rated Beast (2017) in Movies

Jan 9, 2019 (Updated Feb 15, 2019)  
Beast (2017)
Beast (2017)
2017 | Thriller
8
6.8 (5 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Outstanding acting (1 more)
Unpredictable
May be too bleak for some (0 more)
A chilling fairytale
A girl with a dark past, the black sheep of the family with a perfect sister, a strict, overbearing mother and an ill father, starts a red-blooded affair with a local boy, an enigma with history of run ins with the law.... and now a suspect in the worst of crimes.
Set in the gorgeously filmed isle of Jersey, Michael Pearce has directed on his debut a real nail biter. This take on the search for a serial killer of young girls, intertwined with a forbidden love story is an uncomfortable, disturbing watch at times.... but hypnotic. And newcomer Jessie Buckley is mesmerising, its hard to take your eyes off her.
Brilliant script, plot, pacing and ominous soundtrack.
A must watch for any fan of dark psychological thrillers.